Air Liquide (AL) will invest close to 60 million euros to take over and operate an ASU within the context of a long-term contract with Wanhua Chemical Group (Wanhua), a global leading supplier of chemical innovative products, in the city of Yantai, China. 
In this context, AL will also build, own and operate a new liquid argon production unit on this ASU - built by Air Liquide Engineering & Construction - to serve Industrial Merchant markets in Yantai and the wider province of Shandong.
This long-term contract, the first signed by the Group with Wanhua, will allow AL to start supplying industrial and medical gases in the city of Yantai and to reinforce its presence in the region of Shandong.
Within the context of this new partnership, AL will provide large amounts of nitrogen and oxygen to Wanhua. Building on synergies around this ASU, which is set to be operational at the end of 2024, AL will also serve nitrogen, oxygen and argon to the local Industrial Merchant markets. This partnership allows AL to start supplying industrial and medical gases in the city of Yantai, the second largest industrial city in Shandong.